'Meet the Press': President Obama Addresses 'Lincoln Moment' (Video)

Getty Images

Addressing the fiscal cliff on Sunday's episode of Meet the Press, President Obama raised the subject of Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, a film that's drawn buzz in Washington for its depiction of Abraham Lincoln deftly overcoming political pushback in order to pass the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery.

our editor recommends

Matt Damon Smacks Politicians, Defends Obama Criticism and Addresses Clint Eastwood's Chair

Barbara Walters Asks Obamas How They 'Keep the Fire Going'

"I think it's also important for Americans to remember that politics has always been messy. People have been asking me a lot about the film Lincoln... " said Obama, prompting Meet the Press host David Gregory to ask: "Is this your Lincoln moment?"

"Look, A) I never compared myself to Lincoln and B) obviously the magnitude of the issues are quite different from the Civil War and slavery," responded Obama. "The point, though is, is democracy's always been messy, and we're a big, diverse country that is constantly sort of arguing about all kinds of stuff. But eventually, we do the right thing."

STORY: 'Meet the Press' Books Obama as Fiscal Cliff Vote Nears

Sunday's appearance marked Obama's 11th on the show, though only his second since taking office in 2009. That fall he appeared on Meet the Press as the Senate approached its vote on his health care bill -- which ultimately passed.

In his sitdown with Gregory, which took place Saturday in the White House, Obama said he expected a decision to be made on how to handle the fiscal cliff within the next 48 hours.

If Republicans succeed in blocking, he added, "We'll come back with a new Congress on January 4th and the first bill that will be introduced on the floor will be to cut taxes on middle class families and I don't think the average person is gonna say, 'Gosh, that's a really partisan agenda on the part of either the president or Democrats in Congress.' I think people will say, 'That makes sense.'"

Watch the full interview below wherein Obama addresses other topics such as gun control, Benghazi and Susan Rice.